Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets, with their poeticall comparisons Descriptions of bewties, personages, castles, pallaces, mountaines, groues, seas, springs, riuers, &c. Whereunto are annexed other various discourses, both pleasaunt and profitable.

VVit.

The witte the pupill of the soules cleere eye, And in mans world the onely shining starre, Lookes in the mirror of the phantasie, Where all the gathering of the sences ate, From thence this power the shape of things abstract•• And them within her passiue part receiues, Which are inlightened by that part which acts, And so the forme of single things receiues: But after by discoursing to and fro, Anticipating and comparing things She doth all vniuersall natures know, And all effects into their causes bring. Our witte is giuen Almightie God to know, Our will is giuen to loue him being knowne, But God could not bee knowne to vs below, But by his works, which through the sence are knowne. I. Dauis.

Wit is the mindes cheefe iudge, which doth controle, Of fancies Court the iudgements false and vaine, Will, holdes the royall scepter in the soule, And on the passions of the heart doth raigne. Idem.

Emulation the proud nurse of witte. S. D.

—Wit and learning are two Angelles wings,

By which meane men soare vp to mightie things. Ch. Middl.

Wit is with boldnesse prompt, with terror daunted, And grace is sooner got of dames then graunted. Ed. Spencer.

Some loose their wit with loue, some with ambition Some running to the sea great wealth to get, Some following Lords and men of high condition, Some in fayre iewelles, rich and costly set. One hath desire to prooue a rare magician, Others with Poetrie their witte forget: Another thinkes to bee an Alchimist, Till all hee spent, and hee his number mist. S. I. H.

Mans wit is monstrous, when the same from vertue doth decline. W. Warner.

Mans witte doth build for time but to deuoure, But Vertue's free from time and fortunes power. M. Dr.

The wit not hurt, because not vsed more, Growes dull and farre lesse toward then before. —Wits ambition longeth to the best, For it desires in endlesse blisse to dwell. I. Dauis.

Best loues are lost for wit, when men blame fortune. G. Chapman.

— Carelesse wit is wanton bewties page. D. Lodge.

The finest wittes are soonest snarde with loue. Th. Achellye.

A setled braine is worth a world of witte. Th. Storer.

Wits want makes men desirous to seeme wise.